Office of Minority Health

Overview (Demographics): This racial group refers to people having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa or other Pacific Islands. According to the 2017 U.S. Census Bureau estimate, there are roughly 1.5 million Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders alone or in combination with one of more races who reside within the United States. This group represents about 0.4 percent of the U.S. population. Out of that number, about 367,000 Native Hawaiians or Pacific Islanders reside in Hawaii. In 2017, ten states with the largest Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander populations were: Hawaii, California, Washington, Texas, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Florida, Oregon, and New York. It also is significant to note that 31.2 percent of this group is under the age of 18, as compared to 18.8 percent of the non-Hispanic white population

The Department of Interior Office of Insular Affairs indicates that the 2015 populations for the following U.S. Territories are: American Samoa 57,000; Guam 161,700; Northern Mariana Islands 52,300. United Nations population estimates for other territories in 2015 are: Federated States of Micronesia 109,000; Marshall Islands 57,000; Republic of Palau 18,000.

Educational Attainment: In 2017, 89.4 percent of Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders, alone or in combination, had high school diplomas or higher, as compared to 92.9 percent for whites. 23.3 percent of Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders had a bachelor's degree or higher in comparison to 35.8 percent of whites. 6.9 percent of Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders have obtained graduate degrees in comparison to 13.8 percent of whites. 27.6 percent of Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders speak a language other than English at home.

Economics: According to the Census Bureau, in 2017, the average Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander median household income was $60,734 in comparison to $65,845 for non-Hispanic white households. In 2017, the U.S. Census bureau reported that 15.4 percent of Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders, in comparison to 9.6 percent of non-Hispanic whites, were living at the poverty level. In 2017, the unemployment rate for Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders was 5.8 percent, as compared to 4.2 percent for non-Hispanic whites.

Insurance Coverage: In 2017, 66.9 percent of Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders in comparison to 75.4 non-Hispanic whites used private health insurance. Also in 2017, 33.5 percent of Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders in comparison to 33.7 percent of non-Hispanic whites relied on public health insurance. Finally, 8.3 percent of Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders, in comparison to 5.9 percent of non-Hispanic whites, were uninsured.

Health: According to Census Bureau projections, the 2015 life expectancies at birth for Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders are 80.1 years, with 82.5 years for women, and 77.7 years for men. For non-Hispanic whites the projected life expectancies are 79.8 years, with 82.0 years for women, and 77.5 years for men. It is significant to note that in comparison to other ethnic groups, Native Hawaiians/ Pacific Islanders have higher rates of smoking, alcohol consumption, and obesity. This group also has less access to cancer prevention and control programs. Some leading causes of death among Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders include: cancer, heart disease, unintentional injuries (accidents), stroke and diabetes. Some other health conditions and risk factors that are prevalent among Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders are hepatitis B, HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis.

Other Health Concerns: The tuberculosis rate in 2017 was 38 times higher for Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders, with an incidence rate of 19.1, as compared to 0.5 for the white population.¹

Full Census Reports:

The Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander Population: 2010 [PDF | 4.83MB]
Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2017 [PDF | 1.25MB]
Income and Poverty in the United States: 2019
Census Bureau, 2018. 2017 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates

Other Resources:

U.S. Territories Summary Statistics and Estimates
U.S. Territories Contacts
United Nations World Population Prospects: The 2019 Revision

¹CDC, 2018. Tuberculosis Trends 2017.